Nuclear Safety

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Introduction

Meaning of Nuclear

The term nuclear alone can be described in simple terms as something related to the nucleus of an atom in chemistry or about the nucleus of a cell. Additionally, nuclear safety represents an additional of proper operating conditions, avoiding, and prevention of accidents, a vindication of accidents consequences, which results in protection of workers, the public and the environment from the undue atomic radiation powers (Edwards, Davey & Armstrong, 2013).

Nuclear in The Daily Life

In the real world, nuclear has been used through technology for production of various resources in different field such as the nuclear power plants to produce electricity, in the military to produce nuclear weapons, in the industrial sector for development and process improvement, automation and quality control. It is used in the nuclear medicine in the process of X-Rays, Radiopharmaceuticals and radiation therapy (EMAMI & AKBARI, 2013).  In the agriculture sector, nuclear technology has led to insect and crop pest control, and also the food industries have also used the technology to produce preservatives, and finally, it applies in environmental management processes.

Body

Importance of Nuclear Safety

Nuclear safety can help avert various accidents, death, disasters and to the greater context, the environment degradation. In war, nuclear safety can help soldiers under threat of nuclear weapons, while in hospitals and workers in the nuclear power plants, both nurses, doctors, and patients can be safe if nuclear safety issues become addressed at all extents (Edwards, Davey & Armstrong, 2013). Some known diseases that can be caused as a result of nuclear materials can also be avoided through nuclear security measures. Property losses that include costs of setting up nuclear power plants can also be prevented with proper precautions to prevent such cases of Chernobyl disaster.

In the Event of a Serious Accident

Nuclear incidences have led to significant consequences to people, the environment as well as to the nuclear facilities. During the first world war, what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in a disaster back then because of nuclear weapons. Thousands of people died lost, and genetical mutation in human, animals, and plants resulted into physical and mental deformity because of the nuclear reactions in the atmosphere. Loss of properties, increases in long time effects of nuclear materials can cause diseases such as cancer and mental disorders.

Example of Accident in Nuclear Safety

The most remarkable accidents in the nuclear security include that of Chernobyl disaster and that of Fukushima Daiichi disaster in Japan in 2011. Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster occurred in the city of Pripyat of the formerly USSR Union in 1986. It was the worst accident regarding cost and casualties. It involved over 500,000 workers and the cost estimated at 18 billion rubles. (Samet, 2016).  During the crash, itself two deaths occurred and thirty-one people died in the following month from acute radiation syndrome, while an investigation of long time effects of such as cancer are still going on. Its primary cause was said to be the failure of power- failure test whereby safety systems shut down and then uncontrollable water flushed into the steam generating a destructive steam explosion.

Conclusion

Nuclear has since the past been considered an excellent way to make power that lights and heat our homes through electricity. However, after various terrible disasters in nuclear power plants around the world, people have become aware that, if not treated carefully, the nuclear power contain rather a significant threat to our way of life. Additionally, because of such incidences in the recent years, the safety precautions of working with nuclear power plants have become stricter to save lives and other losses.

Reference

Edwards, J. R., Davey, J., & Armstrong, K. (2013). Returning to the roots of culture: A review and re-conceptualisation of safety culture. Safety science,55, 70-80.

EMAMI, K., & AKBARI, M. (2013). A STUDY ON EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY CONSUMPTION GROWTH ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN MULTI CHOSEN COUNTRIES.

Samet, J. M. (2016). The Financial Costs of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster (Doctoral dissertation, Keck School of Medicine).

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